quality
    adj 1: of superior grade; "choice wines"; "prime beef"; "prize
           carnations"; "quality paper"; "select peaches" [syn:
           choice, prime(a), prize, quality, select]
    2: of high social status; "people of quality"; "a quality
       family"
    n 1: an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or
         someone; "the quality of mercy is not strained"--
         Shakespeare
    2: a degree or grade of excellence or worth; "the quality of
       students has risen"; "an executive of low caliber" [syn:
       quality, caliber, calibre]
    3: a characteristic property that defines the apparent
       individual nature of something; "each town has a quality all
       its own"; "the radical character of our demands" [syn:
       quality, character, lineament]
    4: (music) the distinctive property of a complex sound (a voice
       or noise or musical sound); "the timbre of her soprano was
       rich and lovely"; "the muffled tones of the broken bell
       summoned them to meet" [syn: timbre, timber, quality,
       tone]
    5: high social status; "a man of quality"

Quality \Qual"i*ty\, n.; pl. Qualities. [F. qualit['e], L.
   qualitas, fr. qualis how constituted, as; akin to E. which.
   See Which.]
   1. The condition of being of such and such a sort as
      distinguished from others; nature or character relatively
      considered, as of goods; character; sort; rank.
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            We lived most joyful, obtaining acquaintance with
            many of the city not of the meanest quality. --Bacon
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   2. Special or temporary character; profession; occupation;
      assumed or asserted rank, part, or position.
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            I made that inquiry in quality of an antiquary.
                                                  --Gray.
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   3. That which makes, or helps to make, anything such as it
      is; anything belonging to a subject, or predicable of it;
      distinguishing property, characteristic, or attribute;
      peculiar power, capacity, or virtue; distinctive trait;
      as, the tones of a flute differ from those of a violin in
      quality; the great quality of a statesman.
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   Note: Qualities, in metaphysics, are primary or secondary.
         Primary are those essential to the existence, and even
         the conception, of the thing, as of matter or spirit
         Secondary are those not essential to such a conception.
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   4. An acquired trait; accomplishment; acquisition.
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            He had those qualities of horsemanship, dancing, and
            fencing which accompany a good breeding.
                                                  --Clarendon.
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   5. Superior birth or station; high rank; elevated character.
      "Persons of quality." --Bacon.
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   Quality binding, a kind of worsted tape used in Scotland
      for binding carpets, and the like.

   The quality, those of high rank or station, as
      distinguished from the masses, or common people; the
      nobility; the gentry.
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            I shall appear at the masquerade dressed up in my
            feathers, that the quality may see how pretty they
            will look in their traveling habits.  --Addison.
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   Syn: Property; attribute; nature; peculiarity; character;
        sort; rank; disposition; temper.
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quality

   The totality of features and characteristics of a product or
   service that bear on its ability to satisfy stated or implied
   needs.  Not to be mistaken for "degree of excellence" or
   "fitness for use" which meet only part of the definition.

   [ISO8402].

   (1995-11-10)

QUALITY, persons. The state or condition of a person.
     2. Two contrary qualities cannot be in the same person at the same 
time. Dig. 41, 10, 4. 
     3. Every one is presumed to know the quality of the person with whom he 
is contracting. 
     4. In the United States, the people happily are all upon an equality in 
their civil and political rights. 

QUALITY, pleading. That which distinguishes one thing from another of the 
same kind. 
     2. It is in general necessary, when the declaration alleges an injury 
to the goods and chattels, or any contract relating to them, that the 
quality should be stated and it is also essential, in an action for the 
recovery of real estate, that its quality should be shown; as, whether it 
consists of houses, lands, or other hereditaments, whether the lands are 
meadow, pasture or arable, &c. The same rule requires that, in an action for 
an injury to real property, the quality should be shown. Steph. Pl. 214, 
215. Vide, as to the various qualities, Ayl. Pand. [60.]